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Background: Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among women, and its incidence and mortality are rapidly growing worldwide. In this regard, plant-derived natural compounds have been shown to be effective as chemotherapeutic and preventative agents. Apricot kernels are a rich source of nutrients including proteins, lipids, fibers, and phenolic compounds and contain the aromatic cyanogenic glycoside amygdalin that has been shown to exert a cytotoxic effect on cancer cells by affecting the cell cycle, inducing apoptosis, and regulating the immune function. Methods: Here, we describe a previously unexplored proapoptotic mechanism of action of amygdalin in breast cancer (MCF7) cells that involves the modulation of intracellular proteolysis. For comparative purposes, the same investigations were also conducted upon cell treatment with two apricot kernel aqueous extracts from Prunus armeniaca L. Results: We observed that both the 20S and 26S proteasome activities were downregulated in the MCF7 cells upon 24 h treatments. Simultaneously, the autophagy cascade resulted in being impaired due to cathepsin B and L inhibition that also contributed to a reduction in cancer cell migration. The inhibition of these proteolytic systems finally promoted the activation of apoptotic events in the MCF7 cells. Conclusion: Collectively, our data unveil a novel mechanism of the anticancer activity of amygdalin, prompting further investigations for potential application in cancer preventative strategies.

Exposure to particulate matter is a risk factor for various ocular surface diseases, including keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). In this study, we investigated the protective effects of apricot kernel extract (AKE) and its bioactive compound, amygdalin, on KCS induced by exposure to urban particulate matter (UPM). In the in vivo experiments, eye drops containing 0.5 mg/mL AKE (AKE-0.5) or 1 mg/mL AKE (AKE-1) were administered directly into the eyes of female rats after UPM exposure. Additionally, the effect of AKE and amygdalin on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) activity and the expressions of inflammatory factors, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6, was investigated in conjunctival epithelial cells in vitro. Topical administration of AKE-1 attenuated UPM exposure-induced reduction of tear secretion. Both AKE-0.5 and AKE-1 inhibited UPM exposure-induced corneal epithelial damage and irregularity. AKE also protected against UPM exposure-induced disruption of the mucin-4 layer on the ocular surface. In addition, AKE and amygdalin prevented UPM-induced activation of MMPs and upregulation of TNF-α and IL-6 in conjunctival epithelial cells. Therefore, AKE may have protective effects against UPM exposure-induced KCS via the inhibition of MMPs and inflammation. The pharmacological activities of AKE may be in part due to its bioactive compound, amygdalin.

Plant-based AgNPs synthesis has recently gained popularity due to its cost-effectiveness, feasibility, and environmentally friendly nature. In this study, we utilized apricot kernel skin extract for the first time as both a green reducing agent for silver ions and a stabilizing agent for the resulting AgNPs solution. This solution exhibited remarkable stability and biological activity. The biosynthesized AgNPs were characterized using several spectroscopic approaches. Particle size and zeta potential were found to be 145.5 ± 62.02 nm and − 29.1 ± 5.68 mV, respectively. The dynamic light scattering findings revealed a low polydispersity index of 0.229, indicating that the monodispersity distribution in solution is mainly single-sized and uniform species. The TEM image indicated that the AgNPs were spherical. Even 3 months after synthesis, AgNPs were stable. The DPPH test demonstrated that AgNPs have moderate antioxidant activity. Furthermore, depending on the dose, it is found to have high antibacterial activity against different bacterial species. It was also discovered that AgNPs, which are highly biocompatible with red blood cells in terms of hemolysis activity assay, were more lethal to non-small cell metastatic lung cancer epithelial cells (H1299) than human lung bronchial epithelial cells (Beas2B) with an LC 50 of 6.03 and 14.19 μg/mL, respectively, after 24 h treatment. At TGI concentration, AgNPs also significantly reduced H1299 cell migration. According to artificial intelligence analyses acquired from in ovo chorioallantoic membrane testing, AgNPs, which hold great potential for application in anticancer drug delivery systems, have been also found to reduce angiogenesis at low concentrations. Graphical abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of topical application of apricot kernel extract (AKE) in a unilateral exorbital lacrimal gland excision mouse model of experimental dry eye. Dry eye was induced by surgical removal of the lacrimal gland. Eye drops containing 0.5 or 1 mg/mL AKE were administered twice a day from day 3 to day 7 after surgery. Tear fluid volume and corneal irregularity scores were determined. In addition, we examined the immunohistochemical expression level of Muc4. The topical administration of AKE dose-dependently improved all clinical dry eye symptoms by promoting the secretion of tear fluid and mucin. Thus, the results of this study indicate that AKE may be an efficacious topical agent for treating dry eye disease.

During the extraction of a capillary-porous body, such as the nuclei of fruit seeds, the movement of the distributed substance in the solid phase is carried out by means of molecular diffusion. The amount of material flow in a solid per unit surface is determined by Fick’s law using the diffusion coefficient. The molecular diffusion coefficient depends on the structure of the solid, temperature and soluble substances, and does not depend on the hydrodynamic conditions on the surface of solid particles and the design of the apparatus. The article studies the kinetics of extraction of petals of apricot kernels with ethanol-water solvent. When calculating the value of the residual mass content of plant raw materials during the extraction process, an interval calculation method was used. Based on the experimental data of the extraction kinetics, the molecular diffusion coefficient was determined, which significantly increases during 600-700 s of extraction, and then decreases by 2 times after 1800 s. After 3000 s from the beginning of the process, the diffusion coefficient decreases less sharply. A significant increase in the diffusion coefficient at the beginning of the extraction process, including the impregnation stage, is associated with the uneven distribution of the extracted components in the initial sections of the capillaries. In the studies carried out, the nature of the change in the diffusion coefficient over time does not contradict modern concepts of the mechanism of extraction of a porous structure from plant raw materials.

Waste from the food industry is of considerable value and is a valuable raw material, containing proteins, minerals, carbohydrates, lipids, etc. Large quantities of fruit kernels are currently wasted every year from processing plants all over the world, including Romania. This not only means the loss of a potentially valuable resource, but also creates serious problems regarding their storage and logistics in terms of environmental pollution. In order to value such by-products, the aim of this work was to study and evaluate 7 samples of vegetable oils obtained under laboratory conditions, as well as their saturated and unsaturated fatty acid profile. The oils were extracted from plant material of Romanian origin: apricot, plum, sour cherry kernels, apple seed and linseed, almond and walnuts. GC-MS gas chromatographic method was used to determine the fatty acid composition. The dominant fatty acids were the unsaturated ones, i.e. oleic acid (apricot kernel oil,) in the range 51.72- 61.74 % and linoleic acid (apple seed and walnut oil) in the range 57.38 -59.46 %, while linolenic acid (53.15%) predominated mainly in linseed oil. Saturated fatty acids (palmitic and stearic) were also identified in all 7 oil samples, but in lower amounts (palmitic in the range 6.71 - 17.97% and stearic acid in the range 0.40-9.15%). With a high fat content and unsaturated fatty acid composition, these kernel and seed oils can be used in the food industry.